Corruption watchdog to raise price cap on meals civil servants can receive

Social Affairs

Published: 23 Jul. 2024, 16:18 Updated: 23 Jul. 2024, 16:21

Corruption watchdog to raise price cap on meals civil servants can receive

Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Vice Chairperson and Secretary General Chung Seung-yun speaks during a press briefing held at the Government Complex in central Seoul on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) said Tuesday it would swiftly amend antigraft provisions and raise the capped value of meals that can be received by public servants, educators and journalists from 30,000 won ($22) to 50,000 won.

Meal expenditure cap under anticorruption act up for vote

“We will cooperate with related ministries to quickly push through the legislative procedure and implement the amended enforcement decree of the antigraft law,” ACRC Vice Chairperson and Secretary General Chung Seung-yun said during a press briefing held at the Government Complex in central Seoul on Tuesday.

The ACRC has agreed to amend the enforcement decree of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, raising the meal price cap to 50,000 won on Monday. The amendment procedure will be finalized through vice-ministerial and Cabinet meetings.

Following the announcement, the conservative People Power Party (PPP) floor leader Choo Kyung-ho expressed approval, noting that while the ACRC's amendment of the enforcement decree was a positive move, the decision was made rather slowly.

The corruption watchdog has been gathering public opinion regarding the antigraft law since last year, with consistent requests to increase the price cap, particularly from the food service industry. They argued that the 30,000 won limit was outdated, as it was based on the code of conduct for public officials established in 2003. The anti-corruption law has maintained the meal price cap at 30,000 won since its enactment in 2016.

The PPP also asked the government to raise the price ceiling for gifts of agricultural, livestock and marine products from 150,000 won to 300,000 won on Tuesday. The ACRC discussed the price cap on such gifts during its meeting on Monday, but committee members could not agree.

The ACRC vice chairperson noted that merely raising the price cap to 300,000 won without amending the current law would result in the limit doubling to 600,000 won during holidays. The price ceiling for gifts of agricultural, livestock and marine products is currently doubled during the Seollal, or Lunar New Year, and Chuseok holidays, with the effective period being from 24 days before to five days after the holiday.

Meanwhile, the anticorruption body on the same day closed the case on the controversy surrounding Democratic Party (DP) Rep. Lee Jae-myung’s hospital transfer by helicopter. The ACRC had received reports that Lee and his chief secretary, DP Rep. Cheon Jun-ho, violated the antigraft law by using a helicopter to go to a hospital after Lee was suddenly attacked and stabbed during his visit to Busan in January. The committee said that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Lee violated the law, as there are no codes of conduct for public officials that apply to lawmakers.

However, the committee found that Seoul National University Hospital, Pusan National University Hospital and the Busan Metropolitan City Fire Disaster Headquarters, which were involved in the helicopter transfer, violated the code of conduct and will notify related authorities.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]